Kohli double in India's run fest

NAGPUR: Test hundreds don't come easy. Virat Kohli knows that. He had gone past the three-figure mark 18 times before Sunday but none of those came easy for him. Kohli had to toil hard for each of them. Last time Kohli scored a Test hundred at Jamtha, he had to spend almost six hours facing a world class England attack, which had James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar.
Kohli's 19th Test ton, however, came far too easy.It was just another day in office for him. He pierced the gaps at will, timed the ball impeccably on way to 213 (267b, 17x4, 2x6), his fifth double hundred, and surpassed quite a few milestones. Unlike Kolkata where he was pumped up after scoring hundred, it was a calm celebration by Kohli when he reached the 100 and 200-run marks.
Sri Lankan bowlers hardly tested Kohli's skills much and when Rohit Sharma came to bat, it looked all too easy for the Indians. Sharma demonstrated his class with a sparkling unfinished 102 (160b, 8x4, 1x6). The Kohli-Sharma pair added further agony to a clueless Sri Lankan with the 173-run association as India posted a massive 610-6, the highest team score at Jamtha stadium, in their first innings. It was the third time four Indian batsmen scored hundreds in an innings.
When Sri Lanka came out to bat in their second innings, Ishant Sharma knocked off Sadeera Samarawickrama's off stump with a beauty in the first over as the visitors ended day at 21-1, still trailing by 384 runs.
The day belonged to Kohli and Sharma, who enthralled the Nagpur crowd with some breathtaking strokeplay after India lost Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane on either side of the lunch break. While Pujara was batting at his usual pace, Kohli took care of scoring rate. His driving through the off side was as usual exceptional. While Pujara was hitting straight to fielders, Kohli was finding the gaps with ridiculous ease.
Kohli was also helped by Sri Lanka's submissive approach. They could have been more proactive at the start. There were hardly enough men in catching position and Kohli took full advantage of it. Singles were easily available and with odd boundary coming in at regular intervals, there was hardly any pressure. Kohli did bulk of the scoring in the morning session as Pujara didn't look fluent and yorked himself just before lunch. Rahane had a chance to regain his form but he looked too eager to score during his short stay. He got out to a harmless delivery that bounced just a little more than he expected.
The second session was all about entertainment. Sharma started with fluent drives through the off side. The wicket on third day was the best for the batting and Sharma made sure he spent enough time in the middle. Soon, he opened his shoulders and attacked both spinners-Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera. The tired Sri Lankan attack hardly posed any challenge to both classy batsmen.
They stepped up the pace after lunch, with boundaries on either side of the wicket with ease and class. The only talk at tea was when will Kohli get his 200; Sharma will get his hundred and when will India declare. Kohli lofted Perera over deep mid wicket to reach 190s and completed his double ton with singles and doubles. There were hardly any nerves in 190s for him. Sharma also showed no sign of edginess in the 90s. He hit Perera over his head to reach 96s. An inside edge double took him to 98 and a backfoot push off Shanaka took him to the much-needed three-figure mark.
Three out of five Sri Lankan bowlers went for over hundred, with off spinner Perera crossed the 200-run mark, though he took three wickets. Herath was economical in good batting conditions but Sri Lanka would have hoped more from their most experienced bowler.